State Dept: Govt Shutdown Threatens Military Aid to Israel

Officials at all government agencies are trying to play up the “serious” impact that the partial federal government shutdown is having, and while the vast majority of Americans are seeing literally no actual effects, the State Department is hoping to coax Congress back to the table by playing the Israel card.

According to the State Department’s spokeswoman Marie Harf today, the department hasn’t had to have any furloughs of employees but that it is “not just business as usual.”

Harf warned that if the shutdown was prolonged, the $3.1 billion in annual military gifts to Israel could be delayed a bit, falling out of the “time frame that is expected” by Israel’s government.

Harf went on to say that “there are programs certainly that are affected, and which all could be up and running again if Congress could get some business done.”

Thank you for all of your excellent written submissions to anti-war.com. I just read your comment and it brought a smile. I have followed events in the Middle East for the past 50 years. It is wonderful to read someone with your insights into what is actually happening there. I contributed to Paul Findley's last campaign.

Let's look on the bright side.
Israel might bomb the Capitol building if they don't get their money.
Or perhaps they'll seek out a modern day First Lieutenant Milo Minderbinder to do it for them in part payment of the $3.1 billion.
I'm sure the Senate could arrange a non-binding bomb run.